Combined door latch and lock



Nov. 7, i950 v D. c. SMITH* ET AL COMBINED DooR LATCH AND Loox 's sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 10, 1947 I DAV/D C. SMITH LERoY I. OL//vlER INVENTORS Z, m F

ATTORN EYS Nov. 7, 1950 D Q SMITH ET AL 2,529,230

COMBINED DooR LATCH AND Locx Filed July 1o. 1947 s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTORS DAV/.o C. 5mm' Fl G" 5 LEROY .l OBLAINGER ATTORNEYS Nov. 7, i950 D. c. SMITH ETAL COMBINED DooR LATCH AND Locx 3 Sheets-Sheet 3` Filed July 1o, 1947 3 \\.6 a z L f 6 wm M7 s. mv w @o W a wwf# M am E H .L m QI 3 w 5 7 a H 0l 4 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 7, 19750 COMBINED DOOR LATCH AND LOCK David C. Smith and Leroy I. Oblinger, Toledo, Ohio, assignors of thirty per cent to E. W. Sauers and thirty per cent to A. E. Giesey, both of Cleveland, Ohio Application July 10, 1947, Serial N0. 759,976

(Cl. 'Y0-149) 4 Claims. l This invention relates to door latches of the type which may be selectively locked and unlocked from one or both sides of the door and are especially suitable for use on doors between rooms of a residence or ofice, etc., as well as on outside doors. In the case of doors between rooms the door latch according to this invention may be locked fromA the inside to prevent entry into the room, but may be readily unlocked from the inside to permit the door to be opened from the outside. In the case of outside doors these same features may be provided, but in addition, provision is made for locking the door from the outside to prevent entry even though the door may be opened from ther inside at all times. Also, provision is made for opening the door from the outside even though it may have been previously locked from the inside.

One object of the present invention is to provide a door latch capable of being selectively locked and unlocked from one or both sides of the door.

Another object is to provide a door latch which can be easily and quickly installed in a door.

A further object is to provide a door latch having relatively few parts as compared to doorl latches of the same general type, andin which the arrangement of parts is such that mechanical failure is reduced to a minimum.

Still another advantage is to provide a door latch, the parts of which can be manufactured economically and simply.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference numerals in the Various figures indicate the same elements and in which,

Fig. l is a horizontal cross-sectional view of one form of the door latch according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the latch shown in Fig. l taken along line 2-2;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the latch shown in Figs. l and 2 taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of the latch boltshown in Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig, 5 is a partial cross-section of the modication shown in Fig. 2 with some of the elements shown in a different operative position;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional View of a modied form of the invention; and

Fig. '7 is a vertical cross-section corresponding to Fig. 6 but showing the elements in a different operative position.

With reference to Figs. l and 2 a portion of a door II and a portion of the door frame I2 is shown. A keeper plate I3 is provided on the frame in the conventional manner. A latch bolt UI retractably mounted in the door I I, as further described hereinafter, is adapted to be received in a recess provided in the keeper plate I3 and door frame I2. The latch bolt I4 is connected to, a retracting and locking mechanism indicated generally at E5 and contained within a housing I5a. The mechanism I5 is operated by an inner handle or knob IG and an outer knob I'I.

The inner knob I6 is slidably mounted on a rotatable hollow shaft I8 which is secured to a` circular flanged hub member I9. A spindle 2B is slidably mounted within the hub member anf. is secured to the knob i6. Spindle 2li is provided with a section 2i' having an angular outer surface which may be square or hexagonal or the like. A washer 22 which is secured to the inside of hollow shaft i8 fits around the angular section El so that rotational. movement of the knob IE5 will cause the spindle 29, hollow shaft IB and hub member i9 to be rotated as hereinafter described. A loose circular washer 23 is provided on a shoulder of spindle 2i) and a coil spring 2li is disposed around spindle Z to cooperate with washer 23 and the hub end of member I9, so as to normally force the knob I6 outwardly. Since spindle 20 is secured to the knob I6 it will slide inwardly through hub mem- Y ber I9 when the knob I6 is pressed inwardly.

Ihe flanged portion of hub member I@ is provided with pins 25 and 25 (as shown in Figs. 2 and 3), which cooperate with a fork member 2l for retracting the latch bolt I4. The fork member 27, as seen best in Fig. 3, comprises a small forked end 28 adapted to cooperate with the head 29 of latch bolt I Il, a pair of tines 3B one of which has a raised cam surface on the outer side thereof and a pair of flanges 3l Y at the ends of the tines. The flanges, tines and the small forked end each lie in planes at right angles to the other parts of the fork member. The flanges 3| bear against the pins 25 and 26 such that when hub member I9 is rotated about its axis the pins will cause the fork member 2l to slide to the left (see Fig. 3) thereby retracting the latch bolt Ill. Latch bolt Ill is mounted in a sleeve 32 and is normally urged into the extended position by a spring 33 which cooperates with a shoulder Si of the latch bolt IG and an inwardly turned flange 35 of the sleeve 32.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when knob I6 is rotated, the mtion will be translated through spindle 2B, angular washer 22, hollow shaft I8, hub member I9, pins 25 and 2t, fork member 2l to the latch bolt III.

Outer knob Il is secured to a secondary spindle 36, having an angular head 3l at its inner end. This head 3l normally constitutes a driving member which cooperates with a complemental angular shaped open end of a tubular driven member 39 secured to the end of spindle Z. The

44 and an abutment for a bolt 45.

a clutch mechanism by which knob I1 may be disconnected from the mechanism for retracting the latch bolt. The position ofthe clutch mechanism when disengaged is shown in Fig. 5.

In order to lock the clutch in its disengaged' position a pawl 40 is provided. This pawl is pivotally mounted on a plate 4I which is secured within the housing I5a. A spring 42 urges the pawl downwardly against the outer surface of member 39 as shown in Fig. 2. When the clutch mechanism is disengaged by sliding spindle and member 39 to the right, the pawl will engage the'end of member 39 to prevent its return to the normal position as shown in Fig. 5. However, when knob I3 is rotated and the fork'member 21 is `moved by pins or 26 (see Fig. 3) the cam surface on one of the tines 39 referred to above will bear against a small projection of pawl 44,.

thus raising the pawl 49 from the position shown Iin Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 2, thereby releasing member 39 and spindle 2l) so they will spring back to their normal position under the action of spring 24. i v

in operation, the latch bolt I4 can normally be retracted by merely turning either knob I5' or knob I1, but When it is desired to prevent retraction by rendering knob I1 inoperative, thus locking the door on that side, it is only necessary to press knob I6 inwardly so as to disengage member 39 from the angular head 31.r Pawllil-Will engage the member 39 and thus keep knob I1 inoperative until knob I6 is rotated to open the door from the inside at which time pawl 49will be released by the cam surface on one of the tinesV and the'knob I6 will return to its normal position and member 39 will re-engage the head 31 Y as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

' The latch bolt I4 as shown in Figs. 1j Vand 3 Vis of solid metal but if desired a latch bolt as shown in Fig. 4 may be used. This latch bolt comprises a tubular sleeve 43 adapted to slide within sleeve 32. The outer end of sleeve 43 is pinched in to provide a bearing surface for spring Spring 44 bears against the inner flanged end of sleeve 32,

thus normally projecting the latch bolt outwardly.

The bolt 45 is provided with a threaded end on which a nut 46 is securely fixed so as to limit the outward movement of sleeve 43. Another nut 41 is securely fixed to the end ofv bolt 45 to correspond with and serve thersame function of head 29 for cooperating with the small forked end 28 of fork member 21. The latch bolt shown in Fig. 4 has the advantage over latch bolt I4 of permitting the use of a longer spring 44 for projecting sleeve 43' and the further advantage of permitting the use of a longer sleeve 43 compared to the length of latch bolt I4, thereby reducing the possibility of the latch bolt canting in sleeve 32 and becoming immovable therein.

Door latches of the type described herein may be more easily and quickly installed than previously known locks. It is rst necessary to bore a hole transversely or the door to receive theretracting and locking mechanism I5 and then a smaller hole to receive sleeve 32 and the latch However, when knob I6 is It vvill thus l be seen that head 31 and member 39 constitute The.,latch bolt assembly is inserted in sleeve 32 and depressed while the fork member 21 is in- 41` serted' and the small forked end engaged with the head 29. Outer knob I1 including plate 4I, pawl 4I) and associated parts is screwed into position in housing 15a. Next inner knob I6 and associated' elements including the hub member I9 and spindle 23 are inserted, adjusted so that member 39 will engage head 31 and then screwed into housing I5a. The lock is thus completely assembled and ready for use. f

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a modied form of the present invention. This modification includes the principal features of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 as well as the'feature that'the outer'knob is provided with a key actuated lock for locking the door from that side regardless of the condi-A tion of the locking mechanism associated with the inner knob I6. YThis modification is especially suitable for use on outside doors. According to this modification theV door may be opened always by the inner knob I6even though it hasbeen locked by a key onthe outside. Howeven when the door.V hasY been` locked from the inside, to prevent opening from the-outside'by merely turning knob I1, it is nevertheless possible to open-the door from the outside by the use of the key actuated lock. Y

According to Figs. 6 and '1 a minor variation is shown with respect to the inner knob I6.' In

this modification a Yprojecting button 49 is provided for actuating the clutch mechanism instead of the slidably'mounted knob i6 shown in Figs.` l and 2. VKnob I3 `is secured to a rotatable hollow shaft 59 which is secured to a'flanged hubr 5I and the inner edge of the button 49 tonormally force the buttonoutwardly Y The hub member 5I is provided with pins 255 and 26 as in the rst modication for actuating the fork member 21, of which only the tines 39 are seen in Figs. 6 and 7. The operation ofthe latch bolt I4 by knob I6 in Figs. 6 and 7 corresponds with the operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2; The inner end @header-spindle 52 is provided with` aitubular driven member 39 of the clutch mechanism and this member Anormally engages an Yangular head or driving member 31 of a secondary spindle 55.

Outer knob I1V is' securely mounted on a hollow shaft 56 and a conventional key-actuated lock 51, for example, 'of the tumbler type is` disposed within and splined'to the shaft 56 by pin 58 to permit longitudinal sliding movement therein. The lock 51 is operable by a key shown in dotted lines in nig. 6. A C011 spring 59 is disposed within the shaft 59 between detent 60 in the hollow shaft 56 and the inner end of the lock 51 so as to normally .project it outwardly as'shown inFig. 7. rfhe secondary spindle 55 is Secured to the lock 51 and is provided With an angular head 31, which cooperates with the tubular member 39 to form a clutch mechanism as described hereinbefore.

In order to lock the door from the inside so that it cannot be opened from the outside, the pawl 6l similar to pawl 49 is provided. This pawl 9E is pivotally mounted on plate M which is secured to the housing a as in the prior modification. A spring 42 urges the pawl 9i downwardly against the outer surface of member 39 as shown in Fig. 7, so that when button 49 is depressed and member 39 is disengaged from the head 37 by sliding it to the right as shown in Fig. 6, the pawl will engage the end of member 39 to prevent its return to the normal position, thus rendering knob l? inoperative. As with the rst modication, the pawl 6! may be released by merely turning knob I6 to open the door. Pins 25 and 29 will be turned, thus driving fork member 27 (see Fig. 3) to the left and the cam surface on one of the tines 39 will raise pawl 9|, thus releasing member 39 to slide back to its normal position of engagement with head 37, as shown in Fig. 7. y

When it is desired to lock the door from the outside by means of the key-actuated lock 57 it is necessary to depress lock 51 to the position shown in Fig. 6 so that the bolt B3 will engage in the opening provided in the hollow shaft 55. The lock 51 is thus immovable within the shaft 56. In this position (see Fig. 6) the spindle 55 and the head 37 are to the left of their normal position, so that the head 97 is no longer engaged with tubular member 39. Since, therefore, the clutch is in its disengaged position, it will be impossible to retract the latch bolt M by means of knob i7 until the lock 51 has been released from its depressed position by means of a key. Nevertheless, the door can still be opened from the inside by turning knob I9, since the position of lock 57, spindle 55 and head 31 will in no way affect the operation of latch bolt I4 by knob l 9.

To permit opening the door from the outside by the use of a key in lock 57 even when the button 49 is depressed as shown in Fig. 6, a sleeve member 62 secured to and disposed around spindle 55 is provided. This sleeve member 62 will strike a projection on pawl 6| when the lock 51' is depressed beyond its normal looked position. In Fig. 6 the lock mechanism is locked in position by the bolt 63. This bolt will be retracted when the lock 57 is actuated by a key, thus releasing the lock 57 for slidable movement within hollow shaft 59. The lock can then be depressed further against the action of spring 59 so that the sleeve member 92 will raise pawl El thus releasing member 99 which Will return to its normal position. When the pressure on lock 57 is released the lock and the spindle 55 will return to their normal position as shown in Fig. 7 so that member 39 and head 3'! will become engaged and the door can be opened by turning knob il in the usual manner.

It will be clear that the slidable knob I6 and associated parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 serve exactly the same purpose and function as the button 49 and associated parts shown in Figs. 6 and 7 so that these arrangements may be used interchangeably in the modifications shown.

It is to be understood, of course, that the specific elements and exact arrangement of parts shown in the drawings are given by way of illustration and that various modifications and equivalents will be obvious to one skilled in the art. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A door latch for a door comprising a retractable latch bolt, means including a fork member for retracting said bolt, means adapted to be operable from the inner side of the door for actuating said retracting means, means including clutch means for normally permitting operation of said actuating means from the outside of the door to retract said latch bolt, means adapted to be operable from the inner side of the door for disengaging said clutch means to render the latch inoperable from the outer side of the door, and means for holding the clutch in the position of disengagement, said fork member being adapted to release said holding means to permit re-engagement of said clutch means when said retracting means are actuated, depressible keyactuated means for the outer side of the door for disengaging said clutch means to render said latch inoperable from the outer side of the door, means operable by further depressing said keyactuated means for releasing said holding means when said holding means is holding the clutch in the position of disengagement so that said clutch means will be engaged after said keyactuated means is released, thus permitting the operation of said retracting means from the outside of the door.

2. A door latch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for releasing said holding means by said key-actuated means comprises a sleeve member slidably actuated by said key-actuated means.

3. A door latch as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clutch means includes a driven member and wherein said holding means includes a pawl for engaging said driven member to hold said clutch in the position of disengagement, said pawl being disengageable from said driven member by said fork member or by said releasing means.

4. A door latch for a door comprising aretractable latch bolt, means including a fork member for retracting said bolt, means adapted to be operated from the inner side of the door for actuating said retracting means, means including clutch means having parts normally in operative engagement for operating said actuating means from the outside of the door to retract said latch bolt, said clutch means including a driven member, means adapted to be operated from the inner side of the door for disengaging said'parts of the clutch means to render the latch inoperable from the outer side of the door, means for holding the parts of the clutch means in position of disengagement and including a pawl for engaging said driven member to hold said clutch means in the position of disengagement, and means on said fork member to release said holding means to permit re-engagement of said clutch means when said retracting means are actuated from the inner side of the door.y

DAVID C. SMITH. LEROY I. OBLINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of` record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,090,772 Wilson Mar. 17, 1914 1,902,343 Shaw Mar. 21, 1933 2,123,808 Schneider July 12, 1938 2,176,297 Dials Oct. 17, 1939 

